Covid Driven Uncertainty, a Latte Artist and a new interpretation of a classic hit

Monday 27 April 2020  6.22am

 

It seems an almost “nothing type of a week” as we become set in our new Covid 19 self-isolation routines.

 

That aside, it has also been societally revealing.

 

We, as in Australian’s, have a certain “self image” we imagine defines us.

 

We like to portray as a nation of sun loving, beach going, laid back, relaxed, sports mad, successful, rebellious, anti-establishment lovable (responsible) rebels.

 

We will cope with what ever comes our way, stare down danger, wrestle challenges and then go for lunch.

If you ask us, he will offer enthusiastic opinions backed by indisputable proof that we have the best beaches, biggest rocks, produce the worlds best wines, seafood, beef, wool, surf boards, ugg boots and board shorts. And as for sports people, there is no dispute. Same for our musicians, writers and actors, including those born in New Zealand.

We roll with the punches, laugh at adversity and take a “no problem, she’ll be right” approach.

 

Except we don’t, do we?

 

Now, I am not diminishing by any means the hardship many are facing right now and will further face for many months if not years to come.

 

What has become evident is just how “us” Australians’ really do value certainty.

 

We even value “fake” certainty. Some sports have announced actual dates for resumption of competition. They are being applauded for doing so because players, coaches, broadcasters and supporters are desperate for certainty. They also say they don’t know if these dates are achievable.

 

Commentators are going nuts demanding other sports make similar announcements of resumption dates, even if they don’t happen.

 

We also seek certainty as to seeing a movie, sitting at a café or having a BBQ.

 

The thing most certain about this point in our history is there are no certainties. Much of what we took to be for ever more, will no longer be.

The Australianism we need to tap in to is that of innovation, creativeness, our ability to be calm in a crisis and our nature to support those most vulnerable. If we can maintain these quality, in time She will be right. In the meantime, embrace uncertainty as the new normal.

To matters more serious.

 

Melbourne considers itself to be the Coffee Culture capital of Australia (if not the world).

 

Similarly, Melbourne has appointed itself the “Latte Art” capital of Australia.

 

So, imagine how thrilled I was to receive a message from one of Melbourne pre-eminent “Latte Artists” recommending a Podcast and providing written support for it.

 

The recommended podcast is “Girl Taken” produced by BBC Radio 4.

 

Our Latte Artists words of recommendation are:

 

“Do the podcasts you listen to start to merge in to each other so you can’t define one from the other easily? Girl Taken will remain with you.

 

Amazing true account of a charismatic English ex-soldier putting his trust in a refugee and the twists and turns that journey takes him. Unforgettable”.

 

I have listened to 9 of the 10 episodes of Girl Taken and confirm it as a quite gripping and moving story. The two story telling protagonists are the accidental represent the perfect skill and personality alignment of a the journalist's determination to get a story and the desire and dogged determination of the ex soldier to achieve a compassionate and decent outcome.  I am surprised I was not already aware of the story. Some of the middle episodes seem to labour a little with some of the road side chatter but it ultimately does enhance the story.

 

I still have about 150 pages to read from last weeks book, Once While Travelling – The Lonely Planet Story. As such, I may not get to start a new book this week.

However, if you are interested in a little history about the discovery of our continent, a book I enjoyed last year is The Great Race by David Hill. This is a most informative, interesting and easy to read story about the race between the English and the French to complete the map of Australia. Irrespective of this being a genre you read, I am sure it will be enjoyed.

This week I discovered a re-worked version of the Midnight Oil hit Beds are Burning performed and recorded by Julia Stone. It is a very different, almost haunting interpretation with a thought provoking film clip. I am interested to hear what you think about it. Beds are Burning by Julia Stone

And new words are creeping in to our vernacular including “Zumped, used as follows in a conversation between 2 teenagers.

 

Teenager 1.        Why are you so upset?

Teenager 2.        I’ve just been “Zumped”

 

Ist Teenager       Don’t you mean dumped?

2^nd Teenager      No, it happened on Zoom

 

And a thought to ponder:

 

Just think, in 25 years time, our leaders will be the products of home schooling, where the teachers were day drinkers.

 

Stay safe, stay healthy, stay flexible; continue to support and assist others, smile, read and listen.

 

Colin Morley

Making Teachers Redundant - Or Not

Monday 20 April 2020  5.45 am

 

What a wonderful opportunity presents itself today as the Queensland school year re-commences and the majority of students become engaged in parent assisted home schooling.

Much has been made about the disadvantages home schooled students will encounter but in just about every conversation I have had with a teacher about teaching, a consistent theme emerges.

It seems that Parents are constantly providing critical feedback to schools as to the short comings of teachers, methods adopted and the resultant less than expected results achieved by their child.

My little Sally says she is not allowed to contribute, young Daniel is destined to be a mathematics genius and Asif is interested in Australian history if only it was explained correctly.

Teaching seems to one of those things about which we all claim and to know better than the professional teachers.   

Therefore, an unexpected side benefit of isolation and home schooling will be the opportunity for us parents to prove once and foe all just how superior we are as teachers and for our children to achieve results far better than ever before.

What a unique and wonderful opportunity it is for all us “non teachers”.

Alternatively, we may get to understand just how difficult effective teaching is and how skilled and dedicated our teachers are.

I suggest it will be the later.

And what about driving at the moment, at least on those rare occasions we are allowed to venture out in our cars?

Free flowing, clutter free and no delays or hold ups.

However, has anyone else noticed how the driving experience is also resembling the shopping centre car park?

Just like when we enter a car park and lose all semblance of sensible driving because we perceive there are no rules, the roads appear like that right now. On my last 2 driving ventures, I have seen 3 drivers completely ignore red lights. And, I am not talking that doubtful period when you might argue it was an amber light, I am talking straight through a stale red light of 10 or more seconds duration.

We seem to have also forgotten how to negotiate roundabouts. Again, I have witnessed 3 separate occasions where emergency braking by drivers already in the roundabout has been required to prevent accidents. Admittedly, on 2 of these occasions I was running or cycling.

It seems the lack of traffic is making us less inclined to concentrate on the job at hand.

On to other things.

I am very pleased with last week’s reading choice,

The Oarsmen by Scott Patterson. addressed a significant historical story about the sporting activities of the Australian Forces in London in 1919 while waiting repatriation to Australia. Specifically, it traced the formation of and competition history of the Rowing Team.

Interestingly, it discusses the need for both physical and mental recovery for the returning soldiers and in what seems timely in 2020, some impacts from the Spanish Flu pandemic of the time.

I cannot recommend it highly enough and am a little embarrassed I have only just read a book gifted to me for Christmas 2018.

And for this coming week, I will be seeking some new and diverse post Covid 19 travel motivation by reading Once While Travelling – The Lonely Planet Story which I am told addresses the evolution of Lonely Planet travel guides from a single hand written and much copied travel diary to what it became in its heyday. Who hasn’t bought, begged, borrowed or stolen a Lonely Planet Travel Guide. (I have 6 – all bought by me)

As for Podcasts, one of my secret pleasures this last 18 months or so has been to listen to “Chat 10, Looks 3”. I say “secret” because chances are it is a podcast aimed more at Women than Men. It is hosted by Annabelle Crabb and Leigh Sales. They are totally free of their “ABC Persona”, are self-deprecating, teasing of each other and often hilarious. It also comes as a shock to hear the occasional F Bomb. The podcast has nothing to do with the ABC and does not appear on the ABC feed. It is also not about politics.

Take care, be kind, stay healthy. Be grateful for our teachers (and tell them so) and drive safely

 

And a thought to finish:

It’s sad to think that if you actually bullet proof, you are most likely to live your entire life not knowing you are.

Colin Morley

 

To Be Fair To The President - And we always should be

The President of the United States has been criticised for disbanding the Pandemic Response Team in the Federal Security Office. Further, when asked about this, he has criticised and been quite disparaging of the reporter putting the question.

The clear inference is the removal of the Pandemic Response team was a targeted action resulting in a valuable resource no longer being available to be lead the fight against Covid 19.

I am not one to defend the President.

I do however believe that criticism and praise should be fair and balanced and wanted to know if in fact this was a targeted action.   

It is beyond question that he did away with the Pandemic Response Team. It is also reported this was conducted contrary to advice from his medical policy advisers

I do however question this was a targeted action.

From what I can determine, this was merely one of many decisions to abolish or rearrange areas of responsibility previously considered valuable in the defence of the USA against non-military threats such as disease and public health. For example:

·        The Administration also did away with a specialist China based unit with specific responsibility for monitoring disease outbreaks in that country. The last staff were withdrawn at the end of 2018.

·        Also abolished was a scientific unit tasked with the responsibility of monitoring the evolution of animal-based viruses that may have the capacity to transfer to humans.

·       The providing of school meals is a significant operation in America and in far too many cases, are the difference between children being hungry or not. In 2012 amid growing concerns about childhood obesity and early adult onset of heart diseas, respiratory problems and diabetes, a healthy schools meals programme was implemented and then mandated. The improvement in student physical and mental health, concentration, learning capacity and general wellbeing measured over the following 6 years was outstanding. This programme was cancelled by the new Administration and school meals returned to being breakfast of pancakes and syrup followed by hotdogs for lunch.

There are very many examples but I will provide just one more in order to ensure a variety.

·       A US$30 billion Regional Development fund had been operating with huge success over several decades. Many innovations progressed after received loans on attractive terms and many new businesses were established and went on to be successful. Towns and communities prospered and in some cases were revived as employment opportunities grew. In addition, the Regional Development Fund was one of very few Government programs returning a real return on funds invested.

One notable achievement was the invention and bringing to market of the retractable syringe. This product is credited with preventing thousands of health care workers suffering needle prick injury and for preventing needle sharing among intravenous illicit drug users.

While this programme has not been abolished as such, its administration has been moved and the concern is, large corporation will now receive funding previously meant for Regionally based innovators.

I am inclined to declare the criticism of the President for targeting the disbanding of the Pandemic Response Team as being unfair. I do so on the basis this is just one of many, very many, often science based Federal Government operations that were summarily disbanded.

Further, to say the USA would be doing a better job of restricting and ultimately eliminating Covid 19 if the Pandemic Response Team still existed cannot be proven. To do so, we would have to have such a comparison and we can never have that. We will only ever know how it has been dealt with without a specialist Pandemic Response Team.

And there is more to consider when assessing the fairness of the criticism of the President.

Through the work of military intelligence, the Federal Administration was first made aware of the outbreak of a serious illness in Wuhan in mid to late December, and certainly before Christmas 2019. On 3 January 2020, a letter requesting a meeting or at least a phone call to discuss the concern this presented was sent to The President. A phone call took place on 17 January 2020. To be fair, the President had more pressing health related issues on his mind and was more interested (reportedly) in discussing the ban on flavoured vaping products.

The President’s first public response to Covid 19 took place on 31 January 2020.

One final point in defence of the timeline adopted by the White House. We need to respect that a Leader with immense responsibilities bestowed upon them has many and multiple demands on their time and any number of priorities to juggle. During this period, several golf games were already scheduled as were some campaign rallies.

Ultimately, we will never know if the response time would have been any different if indeed the team tasked with monitoring the evolution of diseases that jump form animals to humans had been left in place.

We also will never know if things would have been any different if the team based in China responsible for identifying outbreaks of disease in China had still been operative.

How can we know when we have nothing to compare too. Criticism should be fair and it should be evidenced.

And then there is the criticism of the President’s public commentary on the matter.

The President has been widely condemned for initially at least, playing down the potential threat of Covid 19. This was most notable when he said there are only 15 cases in America and likely to be zero or near zero by the end of the week.

Again, I ask if such criticism is fair?

The President does not claim to have high level medical qualifications. He does however, have access to the best minds in the country if not the world. It can only be assumed his comments followed extensive briefings from his key specialist advisers.

He often provides commentary on matters scientific and it should be assumed he does so after close and detailed consultation with specialist, highly qualified advisers.

It could be assumed that the specialists he based the comments about there being zero or near zero Covid 19 cases by the end of the week are equal in calibre, scientific standing and qualification as the advisers he relies upon when talking about climate science.

I have no reason to challenge the possibility that the advisers relied upon when suggesting zero or near zero cases by the end of the week hold the equivalent level of qualification and acknowledged expertise in their field, as the climate advisers do in theirs

Criticism should always be fair and should also be evidence based.

I will leave the reader to decide in this case.

How are we behaving in isolation

Monday 13 April 2020 6.12am

In the spirit of Charles Dickens:

 

It is the best of times

It is the worst of times

 

We hear daily of extraordinary human endeavours as we go about addressing Covid 19 and limiting its damage.

 

We here of health care professionals, cleaners, delivery drivers and warehouse personnel performing outstanding feats to support the community at large.

 

We hear of acts of kindness and compassion by supermarket employees, assisting the aged and incapacitated, the mothers with children and providing special hours to support essential service workers.

 

In times of stress and challenge, the best in people inevitably prevails.

 

It is the best of times.

 

We also hear of medical professionals being abused physically and verbally as demands are made to prioritise their case or the case of one of their family ahead of those already in the queue or those with more severe or desperate needs.

 

We hear and see reports of supermarket staff being assaulted by customers not wanting to line up or not being able to obtain the goods they want at the moment they want it.

 

It is the worst of times.

 

We see what certainly appears to be the vast majority adhere to the isolation at home request, but then large groups of people accumulate at the parkland at Nudgee Beach on Good Friday afternoon, all haven arrived by car.

 

This tendency to divide in to the extremes of the spectrum is being reflected in how we are responding to the issues, stresses and challenges Covid 19 presents. While most are overtly kind, appreciative and considerate, others insist on being angry or entitled.

 

While staying safe, lets all commit to being patient with, supportive and appreciative of and helpful towards those tasked with providing the essential services.

 

It can be the best of times, always.

 

Moving on to Podcasts.

 

What do Carrie Bradshaw’s Laptop, Dorothy’s Ruby Slippers, The Bee Gees Silver Suits and 30 of the original Muppets have in common?

 

They are all “Lost at The Smithsonian”. Well, not lost exactly but currently not on display.

 

However, their stories and many more are told In the Lost at the Smithsonian Podcast presented by comedian and pop culture fanatic Aasif Mandvi. I suggest you start from season one and enjoy interesting looks at pop culture history including interviews with those who were there, or have studied the subject somewhat obsessively.

As for books, I am going to read The Orsmen by Scott Patterson. ThIs is a true story and is billed as “The remarkable story of the men who rowed from the Great War to peace.

I confess to having made little progress on last weeks Podcast but will do so this week.

And one final thought:

“Imagine the look on the face of the first person who heard a parrot speak”

Stay safe, take care and be kind.

 

Colin Morley

 

Feeling Uncomfortable With a Common Comparison

Monday 6 April 2020     06.20 am (started) 5.54pm (concluded)

 

I am becoming a little uncomfortable with some of the rhetoric being used by politicians, opinion makers and reporters around the efforts to contain the spread of Coronavirus.

 

It is regularly being referred to as “fighting a war” or “being at war”.

 

The US President seems to like the idea that he is a War time President presiding over a War Cabinet.

 

I know several veterans of the Vietnam War and a little of their ordeal during and subsequent to their period of service.

 

I know of many more and their stories. I know Sons and Daughters of Vietnam veterans and challenges they faced and witnessed their Parents face.

 

I knew servicemen from the Second World War and the Great War and while I did not hear of their ordeals first hand, I have read much about horrors, terrors, tragedy and death including in New Guinea, The Pacific and Western Front Campaigns. I also have met several Prisoners of War held captive in Singapore.

 

I cannot help but feel we are insulting the military veterans of our conflicts and their families by drawing an analogy of Coronavirus with their experiences.

 

Moving on to books and Podcasts.

 

Last week’s Podcast was ok and there are further episodes to come to complete the series.

 

For this week, I am adding a Podcast that was sent through and highly recommended. It is Escaping NXIVM and is about a woman’s battle to bring down a cult.

 

I am also going to recommend one I listened to some time ago titled The Alice Fraser Trilogy. It is very funny and also interesting. Alice is also Australian.

 

As for books, I have not quite finished The Birth of Melbourne.

 

This week’s suggestion is motivated by the despair being experienced in a City that fascinates me and of which I can’t wait to return. It is called Here is New York, authored by E.B White. It was first published in 1949 and chronicles a snap shot in time of an evolving City. It is also only 56 pages and will allow me to catch up.

 

Stay safe, stay happy, keep being supportive.

 

Colin Morley